Doorknob



Dec. 12, 1950 E, Q GADPAlLLE 2,534,012

DOOR KNOB Filed Aug. 25, 1947 Fi.l.

x l] IQ I C: 14 /,5 I I I 16 s ""1 |||H- I 50 Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES arem OFFICE DOORKNOB Edgar Courtney Gadpaille, New QrleanaLai.

Application August 25, 1947, SerialNo. 770,347 (Cl. 292 -353) The present invention relates to improvements in door knobs and its general object is to provide a screwless burglar-proof 'door knob which cannot be removed from the exterior side of the door.

1 .Another' object is to provide a novel door knob arrangement which quicker :and easier. to install than the usual screw type door knobs.

A further object is to provide a novel door knob fastening means in combination with release means on the interior side only of the door for said fastening means.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the invention is fully understood, the same resides in the novelty of construe tion, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter specifically described and distinctly claimed in theappended claim.

The description should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross section view of the door knobs and fastening means therefor mounted in a door latch;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the door knob spindle or shaft and of a door and latch bushing in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the split end of the knob shaft;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section view of the knob shaft ratchet housing; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the said ratchet r=.-

housing as it appears removed from within a door knob.

Fig. 6 illustrates another form of the door knob, wherein the ratchet housing is formed from the door knob material as one integral part thereof.

Referring in detail to the several views, there is shown in Fig. l a door knob assembly comprising a shaft i 9 formed with a substantially squar center portion I I bounded by a pair of apertured spacer members or disks l4 and I5. bers l4 and I5 are formed to slide onto the shaft l0 over the ends of the portion ll until they engage against the interior and exterior respectively of a door B. The ends of the shaft l0 continuing from the substantially square center part H are bifurcated so as to form two yieldable arms 16 and H at each end.

The top flat surface of each of the arms is formed with ratchet lugs or teeth 18 facing in the direction of each side of the door B. These ratchet lugs I8 are adapted to operatively engage with generally similar but oppositely facing ratchet lugs 20 formed in the substantially square interior bore of a housing 2|.

The housing 2| is preferably cylindrical around its exterior and-includes a plurality of radial lugs 23 formed from and near an end thereof. These lugs 23 serve to anchor theratchet housing within the body of the door knobs 3i] and ti, as shown in Figure l. The door. knobs are preferably made of plastic or glass, but any suitable material may, of course, be used. Thus, each door knob is made with one of the ratchet housings 2i embedded therein. However, the housings 2| are so arranged in the knobs that the shanks 33 are flush with an open end of the housing bore, to thereby provide a ratchet socket in each knob to receive the ratchet toothed yieldable arms l5 and ll of the shaft Ill.

Accordingly, when the ends are inserted into the knob housings 2 i, the oppositely faced ratchet teeth i8 and 2d of the shaft and housing engage to lock the knobs onto the shaft ends against the spacer disks I4 and It on each side of the door B. The knobs 3i and 3! are distinguishable from each other as one is made solid over an end of the ratchet housing 21 and is applied to the shaft ID on the exterior side of the door B. The other knob 3| at its rounded head portion is formed with a threaded opening surrounding an open end of the ratchet housing therein. Thus, when the shaft is inserted in the ratchet housing, the arms l6 and i l of this end project from the bore beyond the end of the housing concentrically within the threaded opening in the knob. The threaded opening is counter-sunk from an annular shoulder 35, which serves as a stop and seat for a threaded cover plate 31.

The cover plate 31 is exteriorly recessed and formed with a groove 33 for a screw driver or the like. Thus, the plate is easily applied and removed to expose the free ends of the arms it and ll in ratchet locking engagement inside th knob ratchet housing 2 I. Once the knobs are installed over the ends of the shaft Ii], the ratchet teeth prevent the removal of the knobs from the shaft and knob 30 on the outer side of the door B becomes permanently attached. However, the knob (it may be removed by detaching the cover plate 31 and squeezing the exposed ends of arms I6 and I! together to release the locking engagement of the ratchet teeth It and 20. Thus, the knob assembly may be removed to repair the latch in the door when necessary, but only from the inside or the interior of the house or room which the door serves.

In Figure 6 the door knob and ratchet housing are formed as one element. The ratchet teeth 20, for example, are formed from the door knob material by cutting, forging, or molding the same as the door knob is made.

ment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now likely occur to others skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference should be had to the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A screwless knob assembly comprising in combination a latch spindle having a squared center portion and extending at each side thereof into bifurcated yieldable arms, a plurality of lugs formed on the top flat surfaces of the yieldable arms, and a knob, the knob having integrally united therewith a housing, said housing having lugs extended therefrom which are adapted to be embedded within the knob material, said housing having a longitudinal square opening extending therethrough, a plurality of lugs formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the opening, the lugs on the knob housing engaging the lugs of the yieldable arms to lock the knob to the end of the spindle, the knob facing the inner side of the door having a removable screw cap fitting in the face thereof, whereby removal of said cap gives access to the yieldable arms to flex the same inwardly and disengage the knob and spindle lugs to remove the inside knob.

EDGAR COURTNEY GADPAILLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 671,943 Smith Apr. 9, 1901 797,918 Schehr Aug. 22, 1905 1,191,206 McDonald July 18, 1916 1,742,952 Evans Jan. 7, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,494 Great Britain Nov. 29, 1890 140,543

Great Britain Apr. 1, 1920 

